The fight over who succeeds Governor Udom Emmanuel in 2023 among Akwa Iboms had been described by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State as “embarrassing and manifestly premature” for people to start fighting over who succeeds a governor who has just been re-elected and had not even been sworn in for the second term which he was elected.
Governor Udom Emmanuel of the PDP defeated Nsima Ekere of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who was the major opposition candidates in the 9th March, 2019 governorship elections to emerge the governor of Akwa Ibom State for a second term.
As soon as Governor Udom Emmanuel was declared winner and returned elected for the second by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), supporters of the PDP took to the social media to congratulate him and majority of them do not stop at congratulating him but went as far as projecting the geographical region of the state to succeed him in 2023. Others even went as far as projecting some particular candidates to succeed Governor Udom Emmanuel.
It is a well known fact that the governorship candidates especially those in the PDP which has been the only party that had so far produced governors in the state traditionally rotates among different geopolitical areas in the state.
In a statement released by the chairman of PDP in the state, Paul Ekpo, on Tuesday, 19th March, 2019 he reacted to the fight over who succeeds Governor Udom Emmanuel by saying that it was pertinent the hierarchy of the party takes steps to urgently address the development which he described as “unnecessary, divisive and diversionary.
Highlights from Paul Ekpo’s statement read:
“We, therefore, appeal to the general public and the prospective aspirants to please allow the state to run smoothly without any distraction.”
“While it is very permissible to have aspirations of any magnitude, time is a key determinant of the appropriateness or otherwise of such ambition.”
“We also appeal to online influencers and bloggers to desist forthwith from instigating or participating in the promotion and projection of persons for 2023.”
He also reacted to those talking about the scheming for appointment in Governor Emmanuel’s second term by saying, “As the first term of this administration comes to a successful end, we are aware that the battle for appointment will reach fever pitch. We admonish the intended beneficiaries to recognize the fact that the authority to appoint is legally resident in the appointor (in this case the Governor) and exercised at his discretion, without any pressures whatsoever. Therefore mobilising online or social media support will have absolutely no effect on the process.”
